Why Your Sales Follow-Ups Aren't Closing Deals (And What to Do Instead)

Now today, what I want us to look at is ideas for follow-up prompts.

Now for those of you who've been listening for the last maybe one week, you are already aware that that even though lots of Nigerians say follow up, what we actually mean in a sales context is to follow through.

I'll explain the difference.

In sales, when we say follow through, it means that we were having a conversation with somebody in the past and we agreed on what the next clear steps were.

So because of that, now that I'm calling the person today, I'm calling to follow through and I'm calling to say how far with what we agreed last week.

So last week, this is what we discussed.

So how far now? Like, are we good? Have you done your own share? Or I'm, you know, calling to give feedback that, you know, I've done my own part.

So that is following through.

When you follow through, there has been a mutually agreed prior commitment.

You and the other person agreed that to move this thing forward, we will both take this step.

That's follow through.

Then, follow-up is just when you're buzzing somebody, you're calling somebody, but it's like there's no clear agenda for the call.

So, Happy Sunday, Happy New Monday, Happy Easter, Happy Idel Kabir, Happy Valentine, Idonte, you know, all those kind of conversations.

All of that is just follow-up.

You're calling somebody.

Because you're trying to stay top of mind, but there's no particular, there's no reason in particular why you're calling.

So that's the difference between follow up and follow through.

So for those of you who want to follow up, but of course we're talking about follow through.

Whatever call you're trying to make, we're going to look at some simple prompts now that you can use.

When I say prompt, I don't mean prompt like how you prompt an AI tool.

just prompt as per something to give you ideas so that the next time you pick up the phone.

Because like I mentioned in, was it two or three podcast episodes ago? Well, I think it was when I was talking about the communications hierarchy.

You know, I was talking about how you will always have to call up people just to see how far with, you know, that last meeting or to arrange a presentation, to arrange a meeting, you know, whatever, you know, things like that.

So, yeah, I think that's where I spoke about follow-up and follow-through a lot.

Anyway, so just some simple prompts now that we can use when we're following up or following through, which is the proper way.

Now today, what I want us to look at is ideas for follow-up prompts.

Now for those of you who've been listening for the last maybe one week, you are already aware that that even though lots of Nigerians say follow up, what we actually mean in a sales context is to follow through.

I'll explain the difference.

In sales, when we say follow through, it means that we were having a conversation with somebody in the past and we agreed on what the next clear steps were.

So because of that, now that I'm calling the person today, I'm calling to follow through and I'm calling to say how far with what we agreed last week.

So last week, this is what we discussed.

So how far now? Like, are we good? Have you done your own share? Or I'm, you know, calling to give feedback that, you know, I've done my own part.

So that is following through.

When you follow through, there has been a mutually agreed prior commitment.

You and the other person agreed that to move this thing forward, we will both take this step.

That's follow through.

Then, follow-up is just when you're buzzing somebody, you're calling somebody, but it's like there's no clear agenda for the call.

So, Happy Sunday, Happy New Monday, Happy Easter, Happy Idel Kabir, Happy Valentine, Idonte, you know, all those kind of conversations.

All of that is just follow-up.

You're calling somebody.

Because you're trying to stay top of mind, but there's no particular, there's no reason in particular why you're calling.

So that's the difference between follow up and follow through.

So for those of you who want to follow up, but of course we're talking about follow through.

Whatever call you're trying to make, we're going to look at some simple prompts now that you can use.

When I say prompt, I don't mean prompt like how you prompt an AI tool.

just prompt as per something to give you ideas so that the next time you pick up the phone.

Because like I mentioned in, was it two or three podcast episodes ago? Well, I think it was when I was talking about the communications hierarchy.

You know, I was talking about how you will always have to call up people just to see how far with, you know, that last meeting or to arrange a presentation, to arrange a meeting, you know, whatever, you know, things like that.

So, yeah, I think that's where I spoke about follow-up and follow-through a lot.

Anyway, so just some simple prompts now that we can use when we're following up or following through, which is the proper way.